Tent



A. F. LEACH Julyy l2, 1927.

TENT

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 20. 1925 A. F. LEACH July l2, 1927.

TENT

Filed Jun 20. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f 062232@ Zfm afm uw Patented July 12, 192.7.

UNITED STATES ALICE E. LEAen, or BnooKLnvE, MASSACHUSETTS.

TENT.

Application filed .Tune 20, 1925. Serial No. $8,524.y

My inventionY relates to collapsible tents. With the advent of automobile camping` trips a tremendous demand has arisen for a collapsible tent that can be folded into a very small space and which weighs very little. lThe chief object of my invention is to provide a tent especially adapted for this use constructed of very few parts, cheap, yet lrugged and convenient.

lI am aware that tent frames having ribs which open and close similar to umbrella ribs 'have been provided and one .feature of my invention relates to improvement in this type of frame. My improved tent frame comprises a centre pole having; its top preferably radially enlarged, ribs having inclined inner ends, hinges joining the inclined inner ends of said ribsto the sides of the enlarged pole top, a runner element havinga flat upper side slidable on said pole, brace arms having` iiat lower ends and inclined upper ends, hinges joining the ine clined upper ends of said brace armsto the underside of said ribs, hinges joining the flat lower ends of said brace arms to the `flat. upper sides of said runner and means to support said runner, brace Varms and ribs in raised position on said pole. I am aware that the brace arms have been lpivotally joined to the runner element, the ribs pivotally joined to the runner element, the ribs pivotallyV joined to the pole and the brace arms pivotally joined to said ribs. but so far as I amy aware no one has used hinges for this purpose. By providing hinges I accomplish the followingV newV results.y When the frame has been raised to open position the inclined innerends of the ribs abut the en larged pole top to limit the outward movement. of the frameandthe inclined upper ends of said brace armsrest vflatly against thelower sides of said inclined ribstlie'reby more strongly` supporting the ribs than' has been done hitherto. Wien the frame is lowered to closed position the flat lower'ends of said brace, arms abut the flat upper sur-y face of the runner thereby retaining the en# tire frame in very compact position.

So' far as I am aware it is new to place the guy ropes of a tent at an anglegto the tent pole underneath the tent canopywherebythey may supportv the walls of the tent. I-Iitherto the guy ropes have been attached to the corners of the tent outside of the canopy where they put great strain on thecorners and portions of the tent to which they are attached, all of which strain comeson.

one spot. By attaching the guy ropes to the frame and to tent pegs spaced at a greater radial distance from the pole than the por-v tion of the frame to which they' are attached., I eliminate all this strain on the tent and permit the guy ropes to support theV walls thereof. I x

These Aand such other objects of my'invention as' may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a-description of one embodiment thereof such as isshown in the accompanying` drawings.4 y

In the drawings, Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved tent.

Ifigg. 2 is a perspective view of the frame and t.Quy ropes thereof in open position mounted on the ground.

Fig'. 3 is perspective view of a tent frame in closed positionV for travel.

In the drawings. wherein like characters ofvreference indicate like parts throughout, l0 generallj.v indicates-the tent pole which may comprise the detachable sections 10a, 10b and l0@ whichmav be joined together as indicated as 12 similar tothe Amanner of joining`V fish pole sections. .The top of the tent pole is preferably radially enlarged as shown at 111-. I provide the ribs 16 adapted to project radially at an angle from the top of the tent in similar fashion to `umbrella ribs. said ribs as shown 18 and mount the eyes 2O on. the outer endsy thereof. In my preferred embodiment I'have shown four ribs I6. As stated I preferably join the ribs to the enlarged pole top 14 by means of the hir-aes attached to theenlaraed pole top 14; and the ,other side 26 of said hinges beingy preferably screwed to the underside of said ribs 16 Vadjacent to the inclined inner endsk 18 thereof. I provide the runner element 2S slidable on the pole y10.v In my preferred embodiment the runner comprises the flat disc 28 havingv the central openingBO therein for insertion over said pole. I provide the brace arms 32 which preferably extend from said runner element 28 up to said ribslG to support themr when inr raised position. I

lpreferably provide said brace arms with the fiat low-er ends 34E for a purpose to be described and the inclined upper ends 36. I provide hinges 88 to join` the inclined upper ends 36 of said brace arinsBQ, to the underside of said ribs 16, one portion 40 of said one side 2liof said hing-es beingl I- preferablyincline the inner ends of hinges being screwed to the under side ol' said ribs 1G and the other portion #i2 being screwed to the sides of the brace armsl adjacent to their inclined upper ends 86. I provide the hinges eht to secure the flat lower ends oi. said brace arms 32 to the upper side ot said disc 28, one portion 4G of said hinges being secured to the periphery ot said disc 2S and the other portion IS ot said hinges being secured to the sides ot said brace arms adjacent to their flat lower ends Si. I also provide means to support the runner 28 in raised position on said pole 10, the preferred embodiment of said means comprising the pin 50 adapted to be thrust through the hole 52 in said pole l0 to support said :frame in raised position. Though I have shown the 'traine and pegs constructed of wood. it is obvious that they may be constructed of. aluminum or other preferably light metal without departing from the spirit ot nrv invention.

I provide the gujT ropes G() preferably at taehed to the outer ends ot said ribs 1G and to tent pegs 58 spaced at a greater radial distance from the tent pole l than the respective rib ends t. .In my preferred embodiment which preferablyv comprises tour ribs9 t'our arms, four guy ropes, and a tour sided tent, I thread the guy ropes GO through the tivo eyes 2O on the respective rib ends 5G on the same side of the tent.` and I secure the ends 62 of said guy ropes 60 to tent pegs 58 on the same side ot the tent opposite their respective rib ends 56 and spaced at a greater radial distance trom the pole l0 than the rib i ends. Thus each guy rope (i0 is threaded through the two adjacent eyes on the same side ot the tent to support the tent between the rib ends and secured to the ground at an angle to said rib ends forming an inclined supporting plane on each side of the tent. It is obvious that the guy ropes may be at tached to the tent pole l0 at an angle thereto in any suitable tashion.

I provide the tent canop)7 70 which is adapted to be mounted on said tent `frame. 'lhe corners 72 thereof are adapted to be secured to the ground as usual b v the tent pegs 59 and the side Walls thereof are supported b v said inclined gu)7 ropes 60 as `inst explained and as shown in Fig. l. In my preferred embodiment I provide the tent with the top 74 to fit over the ribs 1G and the 'four sides 7G having the loops 78 on the lower corners thereof tor attachment to the tent pegs.

To set up the tent, attach the telescoping sections '1.0" lill and 10 oil the pole l0 together. raise the runner. ribs and brace arms from their closed position shown in Fig. 3 to the open position shown in Fig. 2. insert the pin in the hole 52 to support the runner in raised position, insert the guy ropes through the eyes 2O and to the tent pegs 58 at an angle as just explained, and mount the tout canoni,vv 7() thereon securing the corners TQ to the ground by means ot' looping the loopsl Ttl over the tent pegs 59.

To take, dou'n the tent, undo the, corner tent pegs all. talte oil the tent canopy 7th un fasten and take ont the guy ropes (il), pull the. pin ll out oi the hole a2. lower the, runner element 2S. the ribs llt and brace arms 'from the open pin-iitiou shown in Fig. 2 to the closed position shown in lilig. 3, take the tent pole -ections l0, 10h, and l0" apart When the vxhole tent magn be readily packed in a verf)- compact bundle.

is is apparent troni the above construe tion when the `traine is raised to open posif tion, the inclined inner ends i8 ot the ribs Iii abut the enlarged pole top lit to limit the outward movement so that the traine will always be opened to the desired angle to permit rain, etc. to readily run o'fii' and the inclined upper ends oi" the brace arms 32 rest tia-.tlv against the louer sides ot the ribs I6 therebv more strongly supporting the ribs 1G than has been done hitherto. lVhen the runner. brace arms and ribs are lowered to closed pesitifn the flat lower ends ot the brace arms abut the dat upper surface ol,B the runner element QS to retain the entire traine in very compact relationship ior packing purposes. It is obvious that .I have provided a tent structure 'which when packed for shipping; onrposes comprises a very coin.- pact and light bundle about thirtiesii: inches long Which mayv be readilkir carried bv a tramper or packed in an automobile trunk.

It is obvious that the inclined guf,7 ropes 60 lor the first time in any hind ot tout structure actuall)Y support the walls` oiI the tent'.

It is understood that my invention not limited to the speciiie embodiment shown and that various dev.' ations inav be made therefrom Without departing trom the spirit and scope ot the appended claims.

`What I claim as new and desire to secure as Letters Patent is 1. A collapsible tent, comprising' a frame, comprising a centre pole adapted to be inserted in the ground composed ot detachable sections, and having its to radially en larged1 ribs having inclined inner ends and eves mounted on the outer 'ends thereof, hinges joining the inclined inner ends of said ribs to the side of the enlarged pole top, a runner element having a fiat upper side slidable on said pole, brace arms having at lower ends and inclined upper ends, hinges joining the inclined upper ends of said brace arms to the under side ol said ribs, hinges -ioining the flat lower ends of said brace arms to the flat upper side of said runner and means to support said runner in raised position on said pole. guy ropes each threaded through adjacent rib eyes and having their ends secured to tent pegs on the same y side of the tent opposite their respective rib ends spaced at a greater radial distance from the pole than the open rib ends and a tent canopy mounted on said frame having the corners thereof secured to the gro-und by tent pegs and the side walls thereof supported by said inclined guy ropes.

2. A quadrilateral collapsible tent comprising a frame, comprising a centre pole having its top radially enlarged, four ribs having inclined inner ends and eyes mounted on the outer ends thereof, hinges joining the inclined inner ends of said ribs to the sideof the enlarged pole top, a runner element having a flat upper side slidable on said pole, four brace arms having flat lower ends .and inclined upper ends, hinges joining the inclined upper ends of said brace arms to the under side of said ribs, hinges joining lthe flat lower ends of said brace arms to the flat upper side of said runner and means to suppc-rt said runner in raised position on said pole, four guy ropes each threaded through the adjacent rib eyes on the same side of the tent and havingl their ends secured to tent pegs on the same side of the tent opposite their respective ribe-nds spaced at a greater radial distance from the pole than the open rib 'ends and a tent canopy having a top mounted on the upper surface of said open ribs and connecting guy ropes'and four sides the corners thereof secured to the ground by tent pegs and the four side walls thereof supported by said inclined guy ropes.

3. A frame for use in collapsible tents comprising a centre pole composed of detachable sections and having its top radially enlarged, ribs having inclined inner ends and eyes mounted on the outer ends, hinges joining the inclined inner ends of said ribs to the side of the enlarged pole top, a runner element having a. flat upper side slidable on said pole, brace arms having flat lower ends and inclined upper ends adapted when in raised open position to extend at an angle upwards and radially outwards from said runnerelement to said rlbs, hinges joining the inclined upper ends of said brace arms to the under sides of said ribs, hinges joining the flat lower ends of said brace arms to the flat upper side of said runner and means to support said runner in vraised position on said pole whereby when the runner, brace arms and ribs are raised ito open position the inclined inner ends of the ribs may abut the enlarged pole top to limit their outward movement andthe inclined upper ends of said brace arms may rest flat-ly against the lower sides of said ribs and when the runner, braceV arms and ribs are lowered to closed position the flat lower ends of the brace arms may abut the flat upper side of the runner element.

4. An umbrella type of tent comprising V-a centre pole, rigid ribs projecting radially downwardly from the upper end of said pole, guy ropes attached to the outer ends of said ribs and tent pegs spacedY at a greater radial distance from the pole than their respective rib ends and a tentcanopy resting on-said ribshaving the corners thereof secured to the ground by tent pegs and the side walls thereof resting upon and supported by said inclined guy ropes.

5. An umbrella type of tent comprising a centre pole, rigid ribs projecting radially downwardly from the upper end of said pole having eyes mounted on the outer ends thereof, guy ropes eachthreaded through the adjacent rib eyes and having their ends secured to tent pegs on the same side of the tent opposite their respective rib ends and a tent canopy mounted on said ribs having the corners thereof secured to the ground by tent pegs and the side walls thereof supported by said guy ropes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

` ALICE F. LEACH. 

